JUDICIAL INSTRUCTION RELATED TO CERTAIN ALLEGED CHILD OFFENDERS

(a) Each judge of a court with jurisdiction to hear a complaint against a child alleging a violation of a misdemeanor offense punishable by fine only, other than a traffic offense or public intoxication or a violation of a penal ordinance of a political subdivision other than a traffic offense, shall complete a course of instruction related to youth diversion and understanding relevant issues of child welfare, including issues related to mental health and children with disabilities, every judicial academic year that ends in a 0 or a 5. (b) The court of criminal appeals shall adopt the rules necessary to provide for the training required under Subsection (a). The rules must require a judge described by Subsection (a) to complete two hours of the required training every judicial academic year that ends in a 0 or a 5 as part of the training the judge is required to complete under rules adopted by the court of criminal appeals or other law. (c) In adopting the rules, the court of criminal appeals may consult with the supreme court and with professional groups and associations in this state that have expertise in the subject matter to obtain the recommendations of those groups or associations for instructional content.